Sell v. Acer Therapeutics Inc. et al
Filing
135
ORDER AND JUDGMENT APPROVING CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT: NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED THAT: The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the Action and all matters relating to the Settlement, as well as personal j urisdiction over all of the Parties and each of the Settlement Class Members. This Order and Judgment incorporates and makes part hereof: (a) the Stipulation filed with the Court on August 6, 2021, and (b) the Long Notice and Summary Notice filed wit h the Court on August 6, 2021. The Court finds that, for settlement purposes only, the prerequisites for a class action under Rule 23(a) and (b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure have been satisfied in that: and further set forth in this Or der. The finality of this Order and Judgment shall not be affected, in any manner, byrulings that the Court may make on Class Counsels application for an award of attorneys feesand expenses to Class Counsel or award to Class Representative. There is no just reason for delay in the entry of this Order and Judgment andimmediate entry by the Clerk of the Court is expressly directed pursuant to Rule 54(b) of theFederal Rules of Civil Procedure. (Signed by Judge Gregory H. Woods on 1/7/2022) (rro)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
NICHOLAS SKIADAS, Individually and on
Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated,
Plaintiff,
Case No. 1:19-cv-06137-GHW
CLASS ACTION
v.
ACER THERAPEUTICS INC., CHRIS
SCHELLING, and HARRY PALMIN,
Defendants.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT APPROVING
CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
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WHEREAS, Lead Plaintiff Nicholas Skiadas (“Lead Plaintiff”), on behalf of himself and
the Class, and Defendants Acer Therapeutics Inc. (“Acer”), Chris Schelling, and Harry Palmin
(“Defendants” and collectively with Lead Plaintiff the “Parties”) have entered into a Stipulation
and Agreement of Settlement, dated July 21, 2021 and amended per the Court’s instructions (the
“Stipulation”), which provides for a complete dismissal with prejudice of the claims asserted
against Defendants in the Action on the terms and conditions set forth in the Stipulation, subject
to the approval of this Court (the “Settlement”);
WHEREAS, unless otherwise defined in this Judgment, the capitalized terms herein shall
have the same meaning as they have in the Stipulation, which is attached hereto;
WHEREAS, by Order dated August 11, 2021 (the “Preliminary Approval Order”), this
Court: (a) found, pursuant to Rule 23(e)(1)(B) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, that it
would likely be able to approve the Settlement as fair, reasonable, and accurate under Rule
23(e)(2); (b) ordered that notice of the proposed Settlement be provided to potential Class
Members; (c) provided Settlement Class Members with the opportunity either to exclude
themselves from the Class or to object to the proposed Settlement; and (d) scheduled a hearing
regarding final approval of the Settlement;
WHEREAS, due and adequate notice has been given to the Settlement Class as provided
for in the Preliminary Approval Order;
WHEREAS, the Court conducted a hearing on the January 7, 2022 (the “Settlement
Hearing”) to consider, among other things, (a) whether the terms and conditions of the Stipulation
are fair, reasonable, and adequate for the settlement of all claims asserted by the Settlement Class
against Defendants, including the release of the Released Claims against the Released Parties; and
(b) whether judgment should be entered dismissing the Action with prejudice;
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WHEREAS, the Court having reviewed and considered the Stipulation, all papers filed and
proceedings held herein in connection with the Settlement, all oral and written comments received
regarding the Settlement, and the record in the Action, and good cause appearing therefor;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED
THAT:
1.
The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the Action and all matters
relating to the Settlement, as well as personal jurisdiction over all of the Parties and each of the
Settlement Class Members.
2.
This Order and Judgment incorporates and makes part hereof: (a) the Stipulation
filed with the Court on August 6, 2021, and (b) the Long Notice and Summary Notice filed with
the Court on August 6, 2021.
3.
The Court finds that, for settlement purposes only, the prerequisites for a class
action under Rule 23(a) and (b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure have been satisfied in
that:
(a) the number of Settlement Class Members is so numerous that joinder of all members
thereof is impracticable;
(b) there are questions of law and fact common to the Settlement Class;
(c) the claims of the Lead Plaintiff are typical of the claims of the Settlement Class he seeks
to represent;
(d) Lead Plaintiff and Lead Counsel fairly and adequately represent the interests of the
Settlement Class;
(e) questions of law and fact common to the members of the Settlement Class predominate
over any questions affecting only individual members of the Settlement Class; and
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(f) a class action is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication
of this Action, considering:
i.
the interests of the Settlement Class Members in individually controlling
the prosecution of the separate actions;
ii.
the extent and nature of any litigation concerning the controversy already
commenced by Settlement Class Members;
iii.
the desirability or undesirability of concentrating the litigation of these
claims in this particular forum; and
iv.
the difficulties likely to be encountered in the management of the class
action.
The Settlement Class is being certified for settlement purposes only.
4.
The Court hereby finally certifies this action as a class action for purposes of the
Settlement, pursuant to Rule 23(a) and (b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, on behalf of
all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired the publicly traded Acer common
stock from September 25, 2017 through June 24, 2019, both dates inclusive, and suffered
compensable damages thereby. Excluded from the Settlement Class are Defendants and their
immediate families; the officers and directors of Acer at all relevant times; their legal
representatives, heirs, successors or assigns; any entity in which Defendants have or had a
controlling interest; any entity in which Defendants have or had a controlling interest; and any
entity affiliated with, controlling, controlled by, or under common control with TVM Capital Life
Science. Also excluded from the Settlement Class are those persons who file valid and timely
requests for exclusion in accordance with the Preliminary Approval Order.
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5.
Pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, for the purposes of
this Settlement only, Lead Plaintiff is certified as the class representative on behalf of the
Settlement Class (“Class Representative”) and Lead Counsel previously selected by Lead Plaintiff
and appointed by the Court is hereby appointed as Class Counsel for the Settlement Class (“Class
Counsel”).
6.
In accordance with the Court’s Preliminary Approval Order, the Court hereby finds
that the forms and methods of notifying the Settlement Class of the Settlement and its terms and
conditions met the requirements of due process, Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
and Section 21D(a)(7) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78u-4(a)(7), as
amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995; constituted the best notice
practicable under the circumstances; and constituted due and sufficient notice of these proceedings
and the matters set forth herein, including the Settlement and Plan of Allocation, to all persons and
entities entitled to such notice. No Settlement Class Member is relieved from the terms and
conditions of the Settlement, including the releases provided for in the Stipulation, based upon the
contention or proof that such Settlement Class Member failed to receive actual or adequate notice.
A full opportunity has been offered to the Settlement Class Members to object to the proposed
Settlement and to participate in the hearing thereon. The Court further finds that the notice
provisions of the Class Action Fairness Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1715, were fully discharged. Thus, it is
hereby determined that all Settlement Class Members are bound by this Order and Judgment.
7.
The Settlement is approved as fair, reasonable, and adequate under Rule 23 of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. This Court further finds that the Settlement set forth in the
Stipulation is the result of good faith, arm’s-length negotiations between experienced counsel
representing the interests of Class Representative, Settlement Class Members, and Defendants.
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The Parties are directed to consummate the Settlement in accordance with the terms and provisions
of the Stipulation.
8.
The Action and all claims contained therein, as well as all of the Released Claims,
are dismissed with prejudice as against Defendants and the Released Parties. The Parties are to
bear their own costs, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Stipulation.
9.
The Releasing Parties, on behalf of themselves, their successors and assigns, and
any other Person claiming (now or in the future) through or on behalf of them, regardless of
whether any such Releasing Party ever seeks or obtains by any means, including without limitation
by submitting a Proof of Claim and Release Form, any disbursement from the Settlement Fund,
shall be deemed to have, and by operation of this Order and Judgment shall have, fully, finally,
and forever released, relinquished, compromised, settled, waived, dismissed, and discharged each
and all of the Released Claims against the Released Parties. The Releasing Parties shall be deemed
to have, and by operation of this Order and Judgment shall have, covenanted not to sue the
Released Parties with respect to any and all Released Claims in any forum and in any capacity.
The Releasing Parties shall be and hereby are permanently barred, restrained, and enjoined from
asserting, commencing, prosecuting, instituting, assisting, instigating, or in any way participating
in the commencement or prosecution of any action or other proceeding, in any forum, asserting
any Released Claim, in any capacity, against any of the Released Parties, including Defendants’
Counsel. Nothing contained herein shall, however, bar the Releasing Parties from bringing any
action or claim to enforce the terms of the Stipulation or this Order and Judgment.
10.
Defendants, on behalf of themselves and their Related Parties, shall be deemed to
have, and by operation of this Judgment shall have, fully, finally, and forever released,
relinquished, and discharged Class Representative, Settlement Class Members, Class Counsel, and
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their respective Related Parties from all Claims, whether known or unknown, which arise out of,
concern or relate to the institution, prosecution, settlement or dismissal of the Actions (the
“Defendants’ Released Claims”), and shall be permanently enjoined from prosecuting the
Defendants’ Released Claims against Class Representative, Settlement Class Members, Class
Counsel, and their respective Related Parties. Nothing contained herein shall, however, bar the
Defendants or their Related Parties from bringing any action or claim to enforce the terms of the
Stipulation or this Order and Judgment.
11.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, all Persons shall be permanently enjoined,
barred and restrained from bringing, commencing, prosecuting or asserting any claims, actions, or
causes of action for contribution, indemnity or otherwise against any of the Released Parties
seeking as damages or otherwise the recovery of all or any part of any liability, judgment or
settlement that they pay or are obligated to pay or agree to pay to the Settlement Class or any
Settlement Class Member arising out of, relating to or concerning such Persons’ participation in
any acts, facts, statements or omissions that were or could have been alleged in the Action, whether
arising under state, federal or foreign law as claims, cross-claims, counterclaims, third-party claims
or otherwise, in the Court or any other federal, state, or foreign court, or in any arbitration
proceeding, administrative agency proceeding, tribunal, or any other proceeding or forum. Further,
nothing in the Stipulation or this Order and Judgment shall apply to bar or otherwise affect any
claim for insurance coverage by any Defendant.
12.
The Court hereby finds that the proposed Plan of Allocation is a fair and reasonable
method to allocate the Net Settlement Fund among Settlement Class Members, and Class Counsel
and the Claims Administrator are directed to administer the Plan of Allocation in accordance with
its terms and the terms of the Stipulation.
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13.
The Court finds that the Parties and their counsel have complied with all
requirements of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 as to all proceedings herein.
14.
Neither this Order and Judgment, the Stipulation (nor the Settlement contained
therein), nor any of its terms and provisions, nor any of the negotiations, documents or proceedings
connected with them:
(a)
is or may be deemed to be, or may be used as an admission, concession, or
evidence of, the validity or invalidity of any Released Claims, the truth or falsity of any
fact alleged by Class Representative the sufficiency or deficiency of any defense that has
been or could have been asserted in the Action, or of any wrongdoing, liability, negligence
or fault of Defendants, the Released Parties, or each or any of them;
(b)
is or may be deemed to be or may be used as an admission of, or evidence
of, any fault or misrepresentation or omission with respect to any statement or written
document attributed to, approved or made by Defendants or Released Parties in any civil,
criminal or administrative proceeding in any court, administrative agency or other tribunal;
(c)
is or may be deemed to be or shall be used, offered or received against the
Parties, Defendants or the Released Parties, or each or any of them, as an admission,
concession or evidence of the validity or invalidity of the Released Claims, the infirmity
or strength of any claim raised in the Action, the truth or falsity of any fact alleged by Class
Representative, the Settlement Class, or the availability or lack of availability of
meritorious defenses to the claims raised in the Action;
(d)
is or may be deemed to be or shall be construed as or received in evidence
as an admission or concession against Defendants, or the Released Parties, or each or any
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of them, that any of Class Representative’s or Settlement Class Members’ claims are with
or without merit, that a litigation class should or should not be certified, that damages
recoverable in the Action would have been greater or less than the Settlement Fund or that
the consideration to be given pursuant to the Stipulation represents an amount equal to, less
than or greater than the amount that could have or would have been recovered after trial.
15.
The Released Parties may file the Stipulation and/or this Order and Judgment in
any other action that may be brought against them in order to support a defense or counterclaim
based on principles of res judicata, collateral estoppel, full faith and credit, release, good faith
settlement, judgment bar or reduction or any other theory of claim preclusion or issue preclusion
or similar defense or counterclaim. The Parties may file the Stipulation and/or this Order and
Judgment in any proceedings that may be necessary to consummate or enforce the Stipulation, the
Settlement, or this Order and Judgment.
16.
Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Stipulation, all funds held by the
Escrow Agent shall be deemed to be in custodia legis and shall remain subject to the jurisdiction
of the Court until such time as the funds are distributed or returned pursuant to the Settlement
Stipulation and/or further order of the Court.
17.
Without affecting the finality of this Order and Judgment in any way, this Court
hereby retains continuing exclusive jurisdiction over the Parties and the Settlement Class Members
for all matters relating to the Action, including the administration, interpretation, effectuation or
enforcement of the Stipulation and this Order and Judgment, and including any application for fees
and expenses incurred in connection with administering and distributing the Settlement proceeds
to the Settlement Class Members.
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18.
Without further approval from the Court, Class Representative and Defendants are
hereby authorized to agree to and adopt such amendments or modifications of the Stipulation or
any exhibits attached thereto to effectuate the Settlement that: (a) are not materially inconsistent
with this Judgment; and (b) do not materially limit the rights of Settlement Class Members in
connection with the Settlement. Without further order of the Court, Defendants and Class
Representative may agree to reasonable extensions of time to carry out any of the provisions of
the Stipulation.
19.
The finality of this Order and Judgment shall not be affected, in any manner, by
rulings that the Court may make on Class Counsel’s application for an award of attorneys’ fees
and expenses to Class Counsel or award to Class Representative.
20.
In the event the Settlement is not consummated in accordance with the terms of the
Stipulation, then the Stipulation and this Order and Judgment (including any amendment(s)
thereof, and except as expressly provided in the Stipulation or by order of the Court) shall be null
and void, of no further force or effect, and without prejudice to any Party, and may not be
introduced as evidence or used in any action or proceeding by any Person against the Parties or
the Released Parties, and each Party shall be restored to his, her or its respective litigation positions
as they existed prior to July 21, 2021 pursuant to the terms of the Stipulation.
21.
There is no just reason for delay in the entry of this Order and Judgment and
immediate entry by the Clerk of the Court is expressly directed pursuant to Rule 54(b) of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
SO ORDERED this 7th day of January, 2022.
______________________________
HON. GREGORY H. WOODS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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